BY FRANK DAVIES

 WASHINGTON -- National groups and individuals, including some Cuban
 Americans, stepped up efforts Tuesday to lobby for the return of Elian Gonzalez
 to his father in Cuba.

 They also promise to oppose a bid in Congress to grant citizenship or permanent
 residency to the boy.

 ``This should be a matter of parenting, not politics,'' said Michael McCormick,
 director of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, which works on
 custody issues for fathers.

 Meanwhile, in Miami, attorneys for the boy's relatives are expected to challenge
 the INS rejection of their asylum petition in federal court today.

 McCormick's words were echoed by a number of speakers who attended press
 conferences Tuesday in Washington and Chicago. They represented the National
 Council of Churches and the Cuban American Alliance Education Fund, and
 included several members of the U.S. House.

 ``When it comes to Dade County, Florida, anything is possible in the halls of
 Congress,'' said Rep. Jose Serrano, a New York Democrat. He warned that ``both
 parties are falling all over themselves'' to look like theyre ``doing something for this
 boy to win Floridas votes.''

 Serrano said he and other Democrats were working to fight the plan by
 Republican leaders to extend citizenship or permanent residency to the 6-year-old
 when Congress returns next week.

 ``Right now there are 1.6 million awaiting citizenship, and Congress will not
 consider any of them next week,'' Serrano said.

 ``Imposing citizenship on people feels a little like imposing religion on people,''
 said the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, outgoing head of the National Council of
 Churches. ``You don't impose religion, and you don't impose citizenship.''

 `LONG SHOT' EFFORT

 In Miami, Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen told reporters outside the home of
 Elian's relatives that efforts to obtain the boy's citizenship were on track but ``a
 long shot.'' Although the proposal, if approved, would not resolve the custody
 issue, she said, it would ensure that Elian and his Miami relatives have their day
 in court.

 In Chicago, Reps. Jan Schakofsky and Danny Davis -- Illinois Democrats -- joined
 the Chicago Cuba Coalition in calling for Elians return.

 So far, 21 Democratic House members, including many members of the
 Congressional Black Caucus, have signed a letter to President Clinton urging him
 to expedite Elians return, as ordered by the INS. One South Florida member,
 Alcee Hastings of Miramar, signed the letter.

 Several Cuban Americans attended the Washington gathering, including Jose
 Pertiera, an immigration attorney, and Delvis Fernandez Levy, who heads the
 Cuban American Alliance, an umbrella group of 36 organizations.

 Levy said some Cuban Americans in South Florida have been ``intimidated for
 trying to say that Elian must go home to heal his wounds, not be paraded around
 as a symbol for an anachronistic, angry mob in Miami.''

 Campbell described her recent conversations in Cuba with Elians father, Juan
 Miguel Gonzalez, and the boys four grandparents.

 ``Im often asked if he is being coerced by the Cuban government,'' Campbell said.
 ``I cant guarantee that he isnt, but the real grief, the tears, the hugs between
 family members that I saw, that was not coerced.''

 `GRIEVING'

 Campbell recalled the words of Raquel Rodriguez, Elians grandmother and the
 mother of Elizabeth, who drowned while trying to reach the United States: ``Im
 grieving for my only daughter, and I only have one grandson -- I want him to be
 with his father, who is a good man.''

 U.S. and Cuban representatives met Monday in Havana to discuss the possibility
 that Elian's grandmothers travel to Miami to pick him up, the State Department
 said Tuesday.

 But spokesman James Foley said the women had not requested visas and the
 department had had no direct contact with them.

 Staff writer Alfonso Chardy and Herald wire services contributed to this report.
 

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald